Choosing a floor furnace

The installation of a floor furnace is a something you should consider if you are planning on revamping the heating system in your home or planning an addition to your living space. The benefits are considerable. A floor furnace is aesthetically pleasing, easy to control, energy efficient and economical and provides some health benefits as well.

Floor furnaces have been in use for centuries, beginning in early Roman times, and is rapidly gaining popularity. They are typically installed in bathrooms and atriums since they provide heat to the room individually, but are a good choice for any room. They are ideal anywhere that space is limited or there is the need to eliminate wall mounted or baseboard heaters that can interfere with the visual appeal of a room. Since they are installed underneath the floor, they are virtually invisible.

A floor furnace is installed below the flooring of the room and is not supported by the ground. The piping system hangs from the floor and must clear the ground by a minimum of six inches. The furnace unit itself is also located below the floor and should maintain a minimum clearance on every side from any combustibles. A grate will be installed to allow for easy access to the furnace unit so that maintenance is possible. The grate should be at least six inches away from any walls and be a minimum of 24 inches away from any combustibles of 2 sides. The remaining sides of the grate should be a minimum of 12 inches any doors or other combustibles such as drapery or furniture. Also keep in mind that the grate should be more than 60 inches from any structures such as a stairway or bulkhead.

Be sure that the floor furnace is installed in a configuration that will allow for servicing or replacement of any components of the heating unit. Check your local building codes to verify that installation of a floor furnace is permissible in your area; not all areas allow them.

The floor furnace has a boiler that is fueled with natural gas or propane. Water is heated by the boiler and then run through the piping system that is installed under the flooring. These pipes will transfer the heat to the room through warm air convection. The warmth of the floor creates this warm air convection, which provides a comfortable temperature. This exceptional method of heating a room is really very straight forward and effective. It tends create a "climate" through the even distribution of the heat.

A wall thermostat is installed on the wall in the same room that the floor furnace is heating. It is best to install the thermostat in the same room in order to make it more convenient to regulate the temperature in the room. Other than the grate on the floor, this is the only part of the furnace that is visible.

A floor furnace is available in different sizes, which will of course mean a range of prices. Models are available that use either natural gas or propane and range from 32,000 BTU to 65,000 BTU. They usually start at around $1000 and end up at around $1300. If you cannot find a floor furnace available locally, be prepared to pay extra for shipping the unit to your location.

The use of a floor furnace can provide an overall energy savings of 15-40% when compared to other methods. In addition to the energy savings, this form of heating will keep the moisture content in a room at a relatively low level. This is very beneficial to any members of your family that may suffer from asthma, allergies, or any breathing difficulties. Installing a floor furnace is a decision that will make you feel warm all over.